Wisconsin Governor Pulls Troops from Border

Tony Evers speaks to supporters at a campaign event in Milwaukee, Wisc., during his gubernatorial campaign, November 4, 2018. (Nick Oxford/Reuters)

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers withdrew the state’s National Guard troops from the U.S.-Mexico border on Monday, citing the lack of evidence for President Trump’s national emergency declaration.

“There is simply not ample evidence to support the president’s contention of a national security crisis at our southwestern border. Therefore, there is no justification for the ongoing presence of Wisconsin National Guard personnel at the border,” the Democratic governor said.

There is simply not ample evidence to support the president’s contention of a national security crisis at our southwestern border. Therefore, there is no justification for the ongoing presence of Wisconsin National Guard personnel at the border. https://t.co/ggPNa10zWW

“I cannot support keeping our brave service men and women away from their families without a clear need or purpose that would actively benefit the people of Wisconsin or our nation,” Evers said.

Evers issued the executive order Monday recalling the 112 troops currently assisting Border Patrol in Arizona. Former governor Scott Walker ordered the troops down the the southern border in June.

Earlier this month, Trump declared a national emergency at the border in order to free up $8 billion in federal funds for the construction of his long-promised concrete border wall after Congress approved only $1.375 billion for barriers along the border, rather than the $5.7 billion the president requested.

Republican Illinois congressman Adam Kinzinger took issue with Evers’s decision, saying he is a member of the Wisconsin National Guard and performed several duties with them that benefited immigrants, including intercepting a man crossing the border with 70 pounds of methamphetamine. His team also “found a woman alone in the rugged AZ terrain” and “was able to rescue her from dying alone in the desert,” Kinzinger said.

Before returning from my Air Guard mission in Tucson this weekend, I learned @GovEvers is pulling Wisconsin Guard forces out of Arizona effective March 3rd.